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CHRIST:
"My Child, people are frequently faced with choices in their earthly life. Choices
big or small, important or unimportant, are being made every day by everyone. When one
chooses one thing, he usually gives up something else. He who chooses to study law, is
turning his back on other professions which he might have chosen. You cannot have
everything which you desire. At times you will have to choose some things to others.
The same is also true in the supernatural life. Some things draw you away from Me. If
you choose to save your soul, you must turn away from these things. One who is interested
only in avoiding hell, will tolerate many a deliberate venial sin in his daily life. He will not
make too much effort to eliminate these sins, because he does not choose to bear the
inconvenience which such an effort would involve. He wishes to enjoy his earthly life as far
as he can without endangering his eternal salvation.
Then again, some people choose to aim at a higher perfection. They seek to come closer
to Me by a serious effort to eliminate venial sin from their life, as far as they are able. They
turn away from little pleasures and satisfactions which make them less pleasing to Me.
Lastly, there are those who want to make Me their highest goal every moment of the
day. They strive to do all things without considering their own convenience or
inconvenience. They try to do the better thing, as often as this does not hurt their daily tasks
or interfere with their daily obligations. This last group are choosing Me by turning away
from every earthly satisfaction.
They still take the food, rest, and recreation which they need, but they now do so for a
new and higher reason. Before they did so for the legitimate pleasure and enjoyment which
they received from these things. Now, however, they take these things from a sense of duty
to Me, because I want them to do whatever is necessary for a good day's work. These are
the men who have succeeded in choosing Me in preference to all things. They are not
content with giving Me glory in their life, but they seek to give Me the highest degree of glory
possible.
He who seeks Me thus completely, finds My perfect peace, My firm and lasting happiness, and his own highest perfection. I am more than any earthly accomplishment, more than any human praise, more than any wordly satisfaction. Only cowardice, or misguided
self-interest can make you aim lower than this high perfection.
According as you limit your love for Me, will you have self-deception, spiritual poverty,
and discontent. The less you seek My love and friendship, the more do you harm yourself.
You yourself will be limiting My generosity with you, because you will not use all of the
wonderful graces which I desire to give you."
Think:
No man can enjoy all the good things on earth. He has to choose some things in
preference to others. I have the glorious privilege of making the greatest choice possible to
man. I can prefer the close companionship of Jesus to many other good, but imperfect,
friendships. Every other achievement and success has its day and passes away, but the
friendship of Jesus will endure forever. Not even death can dissolve it. How much do I
really appreciate this priceless treasure? My answer lies in what I am willing to abandon for
it. How great a price am I willing to pay for it? (Ohh, how great and wonderful is the love of Jesus and a life lived only to please and love Him!
Ahhh, how sweet it is!!!)
- From "My Daily Bread" - Confraternity of the Precious
Blood
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